Ironing board



March 17, 1931. 5 JAMES 1,796,714

IRONING BOARD Filed June 16, 1930 o i 7 I 3 0 7/ Inventor Patented Mar.17, 1931 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING BOARD Application filed June16,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ironingboards and the primary object of this invention is to provide a compactironing board capable of being folded. so as to reduce the size of theironing board so that the same may readily be placed within a travellingcase or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ironing boardcomprising a pair of end. sections whereby the sections may be foldedone upon the other in order to be reduced to a compact structure so asto require but little storage space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ironing boardcomprising a pair of hingedly connected sections associated therewithfor retaining the invention in an unfolded position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring a study of the following description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ironing board,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view thereof,

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view showing the section of the board infolded position.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that myimproved ironing board comprises a pair of elongated tapering boards 5and 6 having their adjacent ends hingedly connected together by suitablehinges 7. It will be noted that the widest end of the board 5 is hingedto the smallest or narrowest end of the board 6.

Each of the boards 5 and 6 are arranged in a suitable frame, which frameconsists of a pair of longitudinal angle irons 8 which extend along theside edges of the board with one flange of each angle iron disposedagainst the bottom face of the board section. The frame further includescross bars 9-9 which connect the angle iron side members 8 and extendtransversely of the board section, one of said cross bars being disposedat one end of each section remote from the end 7 and the other of thecross bars 9 connecting in- 1930. Serial No. 461,490.

termediate portions of theside members 8 of the frame.

For retaining the sections 5 and 6 in an unfolded position or in thatposition shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is secured to each of thesections 5 and 6 adjacent their hinged ends substantially U-shaped guidebrackets 10 for slidably accommodating a substan tially U-shapedelongated catch member 11.

The catch member 11 is preferably formed of metal and the legs of thesame at the free ends thereof are bent laterally to provide the stops12, so that when the catch member 11 has been drawn through one of theguide brackets 10 so as to permit folding of the board, the stops 12will engage the remaining guide member 10, thus preventing loss of thecatch member when the board is in the folded up position. i

The board section 6 at its widest end has pivoted thereto a pair of stopmembers 13 as at 13'. When the stop members 13 are in position assuggested in Figure 3, and the board is in an unfolded position to reston a table or the like, it will be seen that the split members 13 mayengage one edge of the table or support to prevent longitudinal movementof the board in one direction when using the ironing board.

For retaining the sections 5 and 6 in a folded position that is foldedone upon the other, in Figure 4, there is provided at the widest end ofthe board 6 a suitable hook 14 adapted to engage an eye member 15 at thefree end or smallest end of the board section 5, so that it will be seenthat the sections 5 and 6 will be securely retained in folded positionone above the other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a very simple,strong and durable board which may be readily folded into a compactposition and it is to be understood that each of the sections 5 and 6may be of such a length that when the board is so folded the entireboard may be placed within a satchel, travelling bag or the like.Further, itwill be appreciated that a board of this character will alsorequire but a minimum amount of storage space.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible tochanges fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention and the scope5 of the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim as new is:

1. An ironing board comprising in combination a pair of hingedlyconnected sec- 13 tions, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracketsecured at the ends of each section adjacent the hinged connection, asubstantially U-shaped resilient catch adapted to be passed through thebrackets when said sec- 15 tions are in longitudinal alinement, saidresilient catch being normally eXpansible whereby opposite portions ofthe catch trictionally engage adjacent portions of said brackets forretaining said catch against dis placement relative to the brackets.

2. An ironing board comprising in combination a pair of hin-gedlyconnected sections each provided with a guide bracket, a normallyexpanded contractible catch member 7 engageable with the brackets forretaining said sections in alinement, said catch member having oppositeportions thereof frictionally engaging said bracketswhen said catch isin an expanded position, and said catch at one end thereof provided withmeans engageable with one of said brackets for limiting longitudinalmovement of the catch relative to the brackets in one direction,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' ANNA E. JAMES.

